While disappointed to lose Hawera for this season's Mitre 10 Cup, Macdonald was delighted he had pushed on.

"I think there has been a great positive come out of this.

"So a guy came down last year for an opportunity, he came down in late February, made himself part of the community, played club rugby for the full season, played for the Stags and played well, and received an opportunity to go play for the Brumbies and he's been able to kick on and sign for another couple of years.

"It is kind of bittersweet. We are sad to lose him but pleased he has been able to play Super Rugby from Southland."

Macdonald had been planning for some time around the likelihood Hawera wouldn't be coming back and have signed Scott Eade and Greg Dyer.

Lima Sopoaga is also on the books but Macdonald doesn't expect to have his services because of All Black commitments.

First five-eighth is now an area of concern as far with no options within the province jumping out if there were further injuries etc

Macdonald indicated they may need to bolster that particular position from outside the region.

"We don't have a great deal of first fives in the province, so we are looking outside and there might be some decisions made shortly."

Hawera will line up for the Brumbies against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday night in a homecoming for him.

He is from Hamilton and started his provincial career with Waikato before shifting to Southland for more game time.

It has turned out to be a golden move.

"At first I wasn't too keen, but my manager and my family told me it was the best option for me going forward," Hawera said.

"I just hadn't moved out of home, and obviously loved playing for Waikato, growing up in the region.

"But obviously in hindsight I was lucky, it was probably the best thing for me. Southland were awesome in giving me an opportunity, and I knew that once I got down there I'd made the right move, and obviously, it paid dividends."